Kovalchuk's agent and the team announced on Monday that the high-scoring left wing has agreed to a contract, ending weeks of speculation where the league's leading goal scorer since 2001 would be skating next season. It's worth $102 million over 17 years, a $6 million cap hit that pays the highest amount ($11.5 million) from 2012-13 to 2016-17.

"This was a long arduous process that has taken frankly a little longer than I thought," agent Jay Grossman said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "But you know what, nothing is worth anything unless you work for it. I can tell you he is very happy to be with the New Jersey Devils."

The final decision came down to the Kings and the three-time Stanley Cup champion Devils, who haven't won a title since 2003.

Grossman refused to say that Kovalchuk decided to stay because he felt the Devils had a better chance to win the Cup again.

"This was so far complex that I don't want to get into those questions," Grossman said. "Obviously his goal is to win the Stanley Cup. If he didn't think there was an opportunity to do that, then he would not have gone there."

Kovalchuk, 27, was traded to the Devils by Atlanta in February after rejecting a 12-year, $101 million extension offered by the Thrashers.

Kovalchuk had 41 goals and 44 assists last season when he earned $7.5 million. He posted only 10 goals and 17 assists with the Devils.

Top-line forward Zach Parise believes that Kovalchuk will be much more comfortable with the Devils next season when he is with them for the entire year.

"It'll make a big difference," Parise told the AP. "You are throwing someone in midseason when sometimes it is tough when you are comfortable with certain situations."

When the trade with the Thrashers was completed, Lamoriello believed his team finally had the goal scorer it needed to make a run at a fourth Cup championship in 15 seasons.

It didn't work out that way. Kovalchuk had two goals in the postseason when the Devils were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games in the opening round. It was New Jersey's third consecutive exit in the first round.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NHL draft, Kovalchuk has scored 338 career goals — the most in the NHL in that period. He has only been to the playoffs twice in eight NHL seasons, winning only one game.

Kovalchuk was acquired from the Thrashers along with defenseman Anssi Salmela (FSY) for forward Niclas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier (FSY), a first-rounder and a swap of second-round picks.

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